[Federal Register: December 28, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 247)]
[Notices]
[Page 68632-68633]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28de09-86]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-R-2009-N137; 30136-1265-0000-S3]
Kirtland's Warbler Wildlife Management Area, Located Throughout 8
Counties in the Northern Lower Peninsula of MI
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental
Assessment (EA) for Kirtland's Warbler Wildlife Management Area
(Kirtland's Warbler WMA). Goals and objectives in the CCP describe how
the agency intends to manage Kirtland's Warbler WMA for the next 15
years.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final CCP and FONSI/EA may be viewed at the
Seney National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters or at public libraries near
the Kirtland's Warbler WMA. You may access and download a copy via the
Planning Web site at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Planning/kirtland or
you may obtain a copy on compact disk by contacting: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation Planning, Bishop Henry
Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111 (1-
800-247-1247, extension 5429), or Seney National Wildlife Refuge, 1674
Refuge Entrance Road, Seney, MI 49883 (906-586-9851). A limited number
of hardcopies will be available for distribution at the Refuge
Headquarters.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg McClellan, (906-586-9851).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we complete the CCP process for Kirtland's
Warbler WMA, which began by publishing a notice of intent (71 FR 20722,
April 21, 2006). For more information about the initial process, see
that notice. We released the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing
and requesting comments in a notice of availability (74 FR 16887, April
13, 2009).
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the wildlife
management area in the early 1980s due, in part, to the recommendations
of the Kirtland's Warbler Recovery Team. The original goal was to
acquire 7,500 acres of land on which habitat would be managed for the
benefit of Kirtland's Warbler. At present, the area contains 124
separate tracts totaling 6,582 acres.
The Draft CCP/EA was released for public review April 3, 2009; the
comment period lasted 42 days ending May 15, 2009. By the conclusion of
the comment period we received 5 written responses from organizations
and individuals. In response to these comments we made a number of
minor edits to the final document.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments received, we have selected
Alternative 3 (Ecological Management and Land Ownership Consolidation)
for implementation. Under the selected alternative we would seek to
manage existing lands as suggested in Alternative 2, but would also
explore land exchanges with the State (and possibly U.S. Forest
Service) to consolidate State and WMA parcels. Proposed land exchanges
would likely increase the total area of land managed for Kirtland's
Warbler, as well as increase management efficiency by both federal and
state agencies. Existing lands and any new lands acquired through
exchange would be managed to benefit the Kirtland's Warbler and other
native flora and fauna of jack pine ecosystems. However, the way jack
pine stands would be managed would be shifted towards a more
ecologically-based approach rather than the highly intensive manner of
present habitat management that produces jack pine plantations. For
instance, if consolidation would occur and the Service would obtain
upland jack pine stands in the eastern Upper Peninsula,
[[Page 68633]]
prescribed fire would be a more likely management tool.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
(16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee et seq.), requires the Service to develop a CCP
for each National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose in developing a CCP is
to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge
purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife
Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife
management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In
addition to outlining broad management direction for conserving
wildlife and their habitats, the CCP identifies wildlife-dependent
recreational opportunities available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and
photography, and environmental education and interpretation.
We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in
accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act
of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement
Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321-4370d).
Dated: August 24, 2009.
Thomas O. Melius,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling,
Minnesota.
[FR Doc. E9-30645 Filed 12-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P